Stilt



J. J. STEPHENS AND C. B. HARRIS.

STILT. I A PPIICATION FILED APR 25.1921.

1 4217 030, Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

owner seams PATENT FFHCE.

JOSEPH J. STEPHENS, OF RICHMOND, MISSOURI, AN D CLINTON IB. HARRIS, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

STIJLT.

Application filed April 25,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that J OSEPH J. STErHENs and CLINTON B. HARRIs, citizens of the United States, residing at Richmond and Dallas, respectively, in the counties of Ray and Dallas, respectively, and States of Missouri and Texas, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stilts, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in stilts.

An important object of the invention is to provide means whereby the foot rest may be vertically adjusted upon the bar of the stilt, enabling the user to learn to walk upon the stilts, with the foot rest at low adjustment, and to elevate the foot rest, when becoming skillful in the use of the stilts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foot rest which is extremely simple in construction, strong and durable.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to prevent the stilt from slipping upon the ground or the like.

Further object of the invention is to provide a boot which may be detachably secured to the lower end of the bar, and will aid in walking upon soft ground.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the foregoing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stilt embodying our invention,

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, parts in elevation,

Fig. 3 is a detail section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the boot. In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred emb0di-' ment of our invention, the numeral 5 designates the bar or body portion of the stilt, which is provided with transverse openings 6, in its lower portion. These openings are preferably equidistant-1y spaced, as shown.

The numeral 7 designates a foot rest, as a whole, which is preferably formed of a strip of suitably stifi' metal, bent to provide an upper U-shaped portion 8, including an inner upstandin ear or side 9, and an outer side 10. The strip is bent downwardly upon Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed Aug. 22, 1922.

1921. Serial No. 464,378.

and about the side 10, at 11, and continued in the form of a diagonal brace 12, depending therefrom, and having a depending ear 13. The ears 9 and 13 are apertured for receiving bolts 14, Wlllcll are removably mounted within selected openings 6, and carrying nuts 15 and washers 16, as shown.

At the lower end of the bar 5 there is provided a U-shaped guard 17 preferably formed or bent from strap iron. The lower end of the bar 5 contacts with the bottom of the bar 17 and the upper ends of the guard have openings 18, receiving a bolt 19, passing through a transverse opening 20 in the bar 5. At its bottom, the U-shaped guard 17 has a transverse opening 21, through which passes a pointed element or prong 22, provided at its top with a relatively large head 23. This head rests upon the top of the bottom of the U-shaped guard, and is within a slight recess 24 provided in the lower end of the bar 5. It is obvious that by dis connecting the guard 17 from the bar 5, that the prong 22 may be readily removed, to be sharpened, or to permit of the insertion of a new prong, should the first prong become injured.

. The numeral 25 designates a boot as a whole, preferably formed of section or strap iron, bent into the desired shape. This boot embodies a horizontal base 26, extending beyond the guard 17, for a substantial distance, -upon opposite sides thereof. From the ends of the horizontal base 26, upwardly converging sides 27 extend, terminating in parallel portions 28, as shown. The horizontal portion 26 is apertured at 29, to re ceive the prong 22, projecting downwardly from below. The boot therefore does not interfere with the operation of the prong, and the prong serves in addition to connect the base 26 with the lower end of the bar. The parallel portions 28 are apertured for receiving bolts 30, passingthrough openings 31 in the bar 5. These bolts carry nuts 32. It is obvious that by removing the nuts 32 that the boot may be quickly removed from the lower end of the bar.

In use, two of the stilts shown in the application, are employed. The foot rest 7 may be secured to each bar 5 at a lower position, and when the user becomes more skillful, the foot rest may be raised, and clamped to the bar, as is obvious. The prong 22 will tend to prevent the slipping of the stilt upon ample of the same, and various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A stilt comprising, a bar, an approximately U-shaped guard receiving the lower end of the bar and secured thereto, the bottom of the guard having an opening, a headed prong arranged within the opening with'its head between said bottom and the lower end of the bar, a boot disposed exteriorly of the guard, said boot having a 1,e27,oso

base extending laterally beyond the guard and upstanding arms for connection with said bar, said base having an opening to receive the prong which extends downwardly below the base, and a foot rest carried by said bar.

2. A stilt comprising, a bar, a foot rest carried thereby, an approximately U-shaped guard secured to the lower end of the bar and having an opening in its bottom, a prong arranged within the opening and projecting outwardly beyond said bottom, and a boot disposed exteriorly of the guard and projecting laterally beyond the same and including a base and upwardly converging sides, said base having an opening to receive the prong which projects outwardly beyond the same, and means for securing the upper ends of said sides to said bar.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

JOSEPH J. STEPHENS. CLINTON B. HARRIS. 

